DIY Gifts for Teachers That Kids Can Make

Couple up with your cutie to craft up something extra nice for his teacher, daycare instructor, or beloved babysitter.

You
know the holiday season is in full swing when those jingles jangle on the
radio, those lights liven up the neighborhood, and when it seems that the heads
of the household are moving a mile a minute. If you want to save money and time
this year, plus fit in some fun with your little one (check,
check, and check), you're in luck. Mamas like you shared their adorable (and
kid-friendly) ideas to handcraft treats for your tots' preschool or daycare teachers.
Check out their gold star–worthy gifts!

An Apple a Day

Give this classic teacher treat a crafty twist with this simple
(and surprisingly cheap) DIY gift. First off, nab some used coloring or logic
books. You'll also need scissors, a pen or pencil, a hot
glue gun (for Mom- or Dad-use only), some twigs or a real apple stem, and a red
magic marker. Let your little one play captain with the first two steps. He can
tear off the cover of an old book and draw one half of a heart on the book's first page. Now for Mom's job: Using
a pair of scissors or an X-Acto knife, cut out the half-heart shapes. Have your
little one color the rounded edges of each of the pages with the red marker.
Divide the pages into two piles and — Mom, this is your job again! — apply hot
glue to the inner edges of the pages so that they stick to the stem. Once the
glue has dried, let your little one fan the pages open so that they create an
apple. Add a cut-out leaf with your pint-sized pupil's name on it and bring it
to school the next day.

Blossoming Bookmarks

Teachers
no doubt use books to teach the tiny tots in their classroom, so give your
little one's educator a beautiful bookmark. You and your pint-sized crafting partner
can work together to decorate this gift with the perfect design. All you need
is some firm cardstock of any color and acrylic paints. First, carefully cut
the cardstock into bookmark-sized strips. Then place down newspaper to cover
the surface you will be working on and encourage your tot to draw decorations
with the paint. Let it sit and dry for a few hours before you put it in your
sweetie's knapsack to bring to class the next day.

Magically Magnetic Clothespins

This nifty craft makes for handy holders that teachers can
use to hang papers and reminders. All you need are painter's markers, magnetic
tape strips that have adhesive backs, wooden clothespins, an X-Acto knife
(for Mom's use only!), and a ruler. Once you've collected all your supplies, cut the
magnetic tape strips to fit the length of the clothespin and stick them on one
side. Let your little kiddie paint the opposite (magnet-free) side. Once the paint has
dried, let him decorate using the painter's markers. (Need inspiration?
Polka-dots are a simple pattern for even the littlest pupils to draw.) Then
package up to present to the teacher with a cute card as shown.

Nifty Note Pad

With so many students to teach, your little one's educator
has a lot on her plate. This fun (and easy) craft will help her with reminders — and it's an awfully cute desk-mate. Look at your local office supply store for
plain, white Post-Its (generic brands might be listed as paper that is cut and
"padded"). The only other items you will
need are markers and a pretty bow or lace. Let your little one draw on the
sides of the paper block and write fun, encouraging sayings that will uplift
her teacher's spirit. Once she's finished, tie some new markers to the top of
the block with a bow to hand off to her teacher before the holidays.

A Colorful Cupful

Let
your little one help in this colorful craft so long as Mom takes on the role as
glue-gun operator. You will need a big box of crayons, a large plastic cup (you
can probably find one at your local craft supply store), and hot glue. First, ask your
little one to choose his favorite crayon colors from the bunch and have him
line them up in a row. (For Mom- or Dad-use only) Glue each crayon onto the cup, allowing your cutie to
choose where each color goes. After the cup is covered, add any additional
designs and decorations. Let it sit to dry before your little student brings it
to school.

The New Class Pet

You don't need to find something furry — or even have a
green thumb — to bring some life into your child's classroom. Take a shopping
trip with your little "planter" to gather all the items you need: an unfinished clay pot, a package of flower
seeds and dirt, paint, brown tissue paper, green tissue paper shreds, and a
candle. Once you've purchased your clay pot, have your child personalize her
teacher's gift with paint. Let it dry, and then have your little one crumble
pieces of the brown tissue paper to place inside the pot to look like dirt.
Scatter the green tissue paper into pieces around the brown tissue paper (a
faux plant to serve as a placeholder until the real thing grows) and place the
seeds and dirt package inside the pot. Add a candle and tie a nice ribbon
around the pot for a finishing touch.

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